The rules of theidogfight were simple: everyone putsiin fifty bucks. And theiguy with theiugliest "date" wins.

The Marines have landed! Cpl. Eddie Birdlace and three buddies are on the loose among San Francisco's bars, tattoo parlors and blue-movie houses. They've also organized a "dogfight," a wager with simple rules. Each guy puts in $50. And the one who finds the most unattractive date wins. Birdlace finds a Rose.

River Phoenix gave one of his most endearing performances as Eddie in Dogfight, a terrific and touching Vietnam-Era saga set to a memory-evoking '60s-tunes soundtrack and directed by Nancy Savoca (True Love, Household Saints). Lili Taylor is equally indelible as "ugly duckling" Rose who joins Eddie in a night of life-transforming impact. In a time to be marked by huge changes, they share the most dynamic change of all: love.